Speakers honor MLK's legacy at Tuesday ceremony

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Western Washington University honored the legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. with an event on Tuesday, Jan. 19, featuring Chicago Civil Rights leader the Rev. Marshall Hatch; noted New York City poet, performer and activist Crystal Valentine; and performer Terry John “TJ” Robinson II.

The event began with a visual snapshot of civil rights over the years in Bellingham and at WWU. Renee Collins, Western's associate dean of students, led that presentation along with Western student Jordan Butler.

In addition, a reception was held for an art show on walls outside the B Gallery on Western’s campus that also is part of the celebration of King’s legacy. The art show, which is free and open to the public, will continue through Jan. 22.

Video of the ceremony is available online. Check out part 1 and part 2 of Tuesday's celebration.

About the presenters:

Marshall Hatch has been the senior pastor of the New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois since 1993.  Hatch has led numerous community outreach programs, including the Cure Violence effort, the Westside Isaiah Plan, an interfaith affordable housing development project, an annual pilgrimage to Zimbabwe, an Illinois Department of Corrections and Cook County Jail visitation and correspondence program, a Christian Sisters women’s ministry, and a Substance Abuse Task Force.

Hatch’s landmark book, “Project America: Memoirs of Faith & Hope to Win the Future,” was published in the spring of 2012. Hatch has a doctorate in Ministry and Theological Studies from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He also has a master’s degree in Government from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Western Illinois University.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Crystal Valentine is a student at New York University, where she is the two-time Grand Slam Champion of NYU's poetry slam team. She won first place at the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitation (CUPSI) in 2015 and 2013. She was a member of the 2014 Urban Word youth slam team and the 2015 New York City Youth Poet Laureate. She has performed at the Lincoln Center, New Amsterdam Theater, the Apollo Theater, and the Nuyorican's Poet's Café.

Terry John “TJ” Robinson II, a 10th grader at Lynden High School, won 2014 and 2015 oratorical contests presented during the Alachua County (Fla.) Martin Luther King celebration. He also is the 2013 Rosa Parks Quiet Courage winner, an essay contest on preserving the legacy of Rosa Parks. As a performer, Robinson had leading roles with productions by Cornerstone Academy Players in Gainesville, Florida. He is the son of Elder Terry Robinson, former associate pastor at Passage Family Church, and Shari Robinson, director of Western’s Counseling Center.

For more information on the campus MLK celebration, contact Leonard Jones, director of WWU University Residences, at 360-650-2953, or Leonard.Jones@wwu.edu.